Getting Started in Hoof Care

This special publication is published once per year by American Farriers Journal. The career guide delivers advice from farriers on how to establish and operate a successful equine footcare practice.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

You are the Future of Hoof-Care

By Kristen Kubisiak posted on July 31, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

The life of a farrier is not for everyone, and the knowledgeable hoof-care practitioners who appear on the pages of this 12th edition of the American Farriers Journal’s “Getting Stared in Hoof Care” don’t sugarcoat the challenges that someone who chooses this profession is likely to face.
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7 Benefits of a Career in Farriery

By Doug Butler, Jacob Butler CJF, AWCF, and Pete Butler posted on July 31, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

As you begin your farriery career, you will find it to be a soul-satisfying and lucrative trade. However, not everyone has what it takes to be a successful farrier.
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4 Keys for Overcoming Obstacles After Farrier School

This article was originally published July 31, 2020 and has been updated.

By Diego Almeida posted on July 31, 2021 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

The graduation ceremony is over. That unforgettable feeling of finishing the first horse without the instructor’s help is still fresh. The former strangers who became close friends during the long days of learning and practicing must now go their separate ways. It’s time to head into the real world of farriery. Where do you start?
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New Farriers can Improve their Careers with the Success Mindset

This article was originally published August 1, 2020 and has been updated.

By Chase Rutledge posted on July 31, 2021 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

The mindset with which you approach your journey into the world of hoof care can often be the difference between fulfillment or frustration with your chosen career. Adoption of a successful mindset provides beginning farriers with the courage to try new things, learn from experiences and approach their chosen trade without being controlled by fear of the unknown. Let’s look at these ideas and how they can help you develop a successful, fulfilling career in hoof care.
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Avoid These Early Mistakes that Can Kill Your Career

By Joshua Sanders posted on August 1, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Building a successful farrier practice from the ground up is challenging for many farrier school graduates. They will encounter a variety of struggles, often due to a lack of business knowledge. Failure to make enough money during the first few years, causes some new farriers to leave the field. Also, many don’t have the inner drive needed to build a business.
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring Clients

This article was originally published August 2, 2019 and has been updated.

By American Farriers Journal Staff posted on August 3, 2021 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education

In an ideal and unrealistic world, horse owners would be model clients with mounts that had perfect conformation and feet. Rather, it’s necessary to ask questions and gain some knowledge about that horse and client before saying “yes.”
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A Simple Rule for Evaluating New Clients

July 31, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Many factors have contributed to Curtis Burns’ success as a farrier over the past 25 years. However, he says one simple rule had the strongest influence on his business. “I never took on a new client who wasn’t as good or better than my best client,” says the Wellington, Fla., farrier.
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How to Answer 5 Common New Client Questions

This article was originally published Nov. 4, 2019 and has been updated.

By Eva Clark posted on August 2, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Reading the American Association of Professional Farriers Credentialing Study Guide, I came across a quote that impacted me. “No one cares about how much you know, until they know how much you care,” wrote Mike Hayward.
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Two Methods to Consider When Firing Hoof-Care Clients

This article was originally published August 2, 2019 and has been updated.

By American Farriers Journal Staff posted on August 2, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients, Education

As your shoeing career pro-gresses, you are going to have clients who raise your blood pressure as soon as you see their name on your schedule. After working hard to build a solid business, getting rid of clients seems to fly in the face of your desire to increase your client base and income. But firing clients just might be what your business and your mental health need.
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Products in Action, G.E. Forge

July 31, 2020

Products in Action, G.E. Forge – Getting Started in Hoof Care 2020
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Your Costs Help Determine the Prices You Set

This article was originally published July 27, 2018 and has been updated.

By Jeremy McGovern posted on August 3, 2021 | Posted in Business Practices, Equipment

There are differences in how every farrier approaches his or her business. Still, the most common and effective way to manage the finances of a farrier business remains knowing what it costs to shoe a horse.
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Choosing the Right Hardware for Your Toolbox

This article was originally published August 4, 2019 and has been updated.

By Ron Perszewski posted on August 3, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education, Equipment

The quality of equipment you have will play an essential role in the quality of work you will deliver as a farrier. Equipment also will be one of your main investments when you are just starting out. With so many options and prices that run the gamut, how do you decide what to purchase? Three successful farriers with offer their insight on making smart tool and equipment purchases.
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3 Insurance Mistakes that Small Business Owners Make

By David J. Barron posted on August 4, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

There are a lot of things to consider when starting your own hoof-care business. Insurance protection should be at the top of your list. According to the 2018 Farrier Business Practices Report, conducted by American Farriers Journal, the vast majority of full-time farriers (95%) have some type of medical insurance. Yet, farriers are woefully underinsured in areas such as life (61%), disability (26%) and liability (46%).
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Business Plans Help Small Business Owners Control Debt

This article was originally published Nov. 3, 2019 and has been updated.

By Shane Westman posted on August 4, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

If you control your debt, you control your life. Not all debt is bad, like a lot of gurus will have you believe, especially when you’re running a small business. Sometimes, you have some stuff called good debt, but you just have to be able to control it.
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What’s the Best Retirement Plan for You?

This article was originally published Aug. 3, 2020 and has been updated.

By Ron Perszewski posted on August 4, 2021 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

As a self-employed farrier, enrolling in an employer-sponsored retirement plan isn’t an option. You’re on your own and you want to get serious about saving for retirement by opening a dedicated account, but where do you start?
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Critical Keys to Successfully Work with Veterinarians

This article was originally published Aug. 5, 2019 and has been updated.

By Tim Shannon posted on August 5, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices

There are many equine professionals that you will work with throughout your career. One of the most important relationships you can build is with equine veterinarians. Together, farriers and vets develop solutions to help the horse. Both need to understand their respective roles to keep the horse’s health above all else — especially egos.
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Grow Your Skills with Continued Education

This article was originally published Aug. 1, 2019 and has been updated.

By Ron Perszewski posted on August 5, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Attending and graduating from farrier school will help you lay the groundwork for a successful career — but if you want to continue to improve in your skills and develop as a hoof-care practitioner, it is only the beginning. Industry leaders point to an increasing emphasis on continuing education and professionalism in the farrier world, and the ongoing need to add to your knowledge and skills.
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Hall of Famers Offer Gems of Wisdom to New Farriers

By American Farriers Journal Staff posted on August 5, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Farriery is a never-ending journey of hoof-care education. It doesn’t matter how long one has been tending to horses’ feet, there’s always something to learn. There’s no better way to learn than to sit at the feet of your elders and listen as they share their wisdom.
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Advice from a Farrier Who Has Just Started His Career

By American Farriers Journal Staff posted on August 6, 2020 | Posted in Business Practices, Education

Completing farrier school represents a significant accomplishment. It also represents a significant step as a full-time professional and, most often, small business owner. You will face challenges that will test your resolve. The good news is that there are resources to help — your fellow farriers.
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Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Getting Started in Hoof Care 2020 Digital Edition

August 1, 2020

Login to view the 2020 issue of Getting Started in Hoof Care in an interactive, flipbook format.

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